Watercooler Stories

CHICAGO, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- The Chicago Public Library said the 101,301 overdue items returned during its amnesty period included a book due 78 years ago.

Library spokeswoman Ruth Lednicer said most of the items returned to the library during the Aug. 20-Sept. 7 "Once in a Blue Moon Amnesty" program, which waived fines for the items returned during the period, were three to five weeks overdue. But the most overdue item was a copy of Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" 78 years overdue, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

Lednicer said the materials -- which would have resulted in a total $641,820 worth of fines if not for the amnesty program -- also included a copy of "Weather and Man" by Hans H. Neuberger that was due 58 years ago and a copy of "Giant Animals of Long Ago" by Agnes McCarthy that was returned by a woman who said she checked it out as a child 36 years ago.

The spokeswoman said the amnesty was the library's first since 1985.

"Don't hold on to books assuming we'll do it again soon," she said. "It won't happen again anytime in the near future."

Strip club smoke source was fog machine

ATLANTA, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Atlanta firefighters investigating smoke coming from a strip club Wednesday said the source was a theatrical fog machine that had mistakenly been left running.

Atlanta fire Battalion Chief David Rhodes said fire crews responded to the report of a possible fire at the Kamal's 21 strip club shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday immediately noticed the smoke did not smell like the result of the fire and entered the facility to find a theatrical smoke machine had mistakenly been left running when the club closed for the night, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday.

"They knew that the smoke wasn't very choking to them, and as soon as the guy got in about 10 feet, he turned around and came back out and told me, 'Hey, this is a smoke machine; we've just got to find it,'" Rhodes said. "But you couldn't see in the building until we blew it out with a fan."

Rhodes said the firefighters eventually located a "pretty high-volume" smoke machine near the stage.

Man arrested in underwear attack

GAINESVILLE, Fla., Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida said a man charged with battery allegedly smeared soiled underpants on another man's face during an argument.

The Alachua County Sheriff's Office said Johnny Broestler, 46, of Gainesville, allegedly entered the camper belonging to Walter Liddel, 60, around 4 p.m. Saturday and demanded money on behalf of the landlord, The Gainesville Sun reported Wednesday.

The sheriff's office said the two men argued, leading Broestler to grab a pair of soiled underwear and smear fecal matter on the other man's face.

The report said Liddel had fecal matter on his neck and ear when a deputy arrived. Broestler was arrested and charged with battery.

Police: Stolen trailers used for bunker

KISSIMMEE, Fla., Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Police in Florida said officers recovering a stolen trailer from a man's yard discovered he was building a "doomsday bunker" from stolen trucks and trailers.

Investigators said they made the discovery at the man's Kissimmee home while recovering a trailer that had been stolen from the Clay & Sons tire and automotive store. Police spokeswoman Stacie Miller said officers determined the man was likely planning to add the stolen vehicle to the "doomsday bunker" he was building in his back yard, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.

Miller said officers discovered the man had a stolen food truck buried in his back yard with a stolen trailer parked above it. The spokeswoman said the man told police he planned to cut a hole in the bottom of the trailer to act as an entrance to the subterranean truck.

Miller said the man's name and age will be released once police determine what charges, if any, will be filed against him.

"You can have your doomsday bunker if you want," Miller said. "You just can't make it out of stolen materials."

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